Greenhill man nominated for two Grammys

Chris Tompkins was in the Charlotte, N.C., airport when he heard the news Thursday that he has been nominated for a coveted Grammy Award.

Tompkins, a songwriter and Greenhill native, was nominated for the award for his work with the Carrie Underwood hit, "Before He Cheats."

The song, which Tompkins co-wrote with Josh Kear, has been nominated for two Grammys.

Tompkins said he knew the nominations were being released Thursday, but he wasn't sure when.

"I called my publisher to look them up online," he said.

His publisher read to Tompkins directly from the Grammy Web site. "Before He Cheats" was nominated for Song of the Year and Country Song of the Year.

"Man, I'm really excited about it," Tompkins said. "I've been on the phone all this time, getting messages and text

messages."

The Grammy Awards ceremony, which will be in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, will be the third major music awards show Tompkins has attended this year. Tompkins was nominated for awards by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

Those earlier nominations have already opened new doors for Tompkins, who has been writing songs in Nashville since 2000.

Tompkins said he's been in Los Angeles writing with former American Idol contestants Chris Daughtry and Kelly Pickler, as well as Jessica Simpson.

"It's just getting better and better," Tompkins said. "It's really opened up a lot of doors."

One person who is pulling for Tompkins is Shoals singer/songwriter Gary Baker, who won Pop Song of the Year and Country Song of the Year with "I Swear" in 1995. Baker is a three-time Grammy nominee.

Baker likened winning a Grammy to an out-of-body experience.

"I didn't expect it. I almost passed out," Baker said. "It's the most amazing feeling I've had in the business. It was like scoring the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, a last-second touchdown."

Baker revealed that the Grammy Award presented to winners on the stage is blank. The real awards are sent out later, he said.

Baker made his acceptance speech, which was unrehearsed, and was whisked away backstage where "at least 100" photographers "shoot pictures of you as fast as they can go."

He wants Tompkins to have that same experience.

"Nobody is pulling for him more than I am," Baker said. "He's got a great shot with that song because she's so hot, not to mention it's a great song."

Since Song of the Year is one of the categories that will be televised, Tompkins said he and his wife will likely be seated among the celebrity artists who have been nominated.

He sees the nomination as another great networking opportunity.

"I want all my friends and family that know me to keep their fingers crossed, and even those that don't know me," Tompkins said.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.